The old woman waddled to the threshold of the kitchen.
The passage and the shop were dark behind the closed shutters, but the figure by the girl's side was taller than Bauer's.
"Who's there ?" cried Mother Holf sharply.

"The shop's shut to-day: you can't come in." "But I am in," came the answer, and Rudolf stepped towards her.

The girl followed a pace behind, her hands clasped and her eyes alight with excitement.

"Don't you know me ?" asked Rudolf, standing opposite the old woman and smiling down on her.
There, in the dim light of the low-roofed passage, Mother Holf was fairly puzzled.

She knew the story of Mr.Rassendyll; she knew that he was again in Ruritania, it was no surprise to her that he should be in Strelsau; but she did not know that Rupert had killed the king, and she had not seen the king close at hand since his illness and his beard impaired what had been a perfect likeness.